Malawi Women’s National Football Team have been drawn in a tough Group C at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) alongside defending champions Nigeria’s Falcons, neighbours Zambia’s Copper Queens and Egypt’s Cleopatras. The draw conducted yesterday in Rabat, Morocco and broadcast live on Confederation of African Football (CAF) Television confirmed the group-stage line-up for the finals to be hosted in Morocco in March. The Scorchers face familiar faces in Copper Queens having played them several times.
In 2025, the two sides clashed three times, twice in international friendly matches in April in which each won once before settling for a 1-1 draw in the Three Nations Tourney which Malawi hosted in December. The Scorchers have never played Nigeria who gp to the tournament as defending champions and remain Africa’s most successful women’s national side. Egypt’s Cleopatras, on the other hand, return to the continental stage after failing to make it in the last edition.
Scorchers head coach Lovemore Fazili, who attended the draw in Rabat alongside Scorchers captain Tabitha Chawinga, in an interview said they will be ready to punch above their weight at the tournament. On her part, Scorchers attacker Sabina Thom said with good preparations, they can upset tables. “We just need to prepare well for the tournament,” she said.
[paywall]
But football analyst Twaha Chimuka in an interview said Scorchers need to pull up their socks if they are to be counted at the tournament. He said: “To be honest, we are in a very tough group. We have been drawn against teams that have experience playing at high level competitions like the World Cup and Wafcon.
“It will not be easy for us. The coaches will have to start thinking about the squad they will pick for the competition and set realistic targets that will prepare the team for this competition and the next to come.” Chimuka said Malawi’s challenge is both the defence and attack. He said: “Watching the team play last year during the Three Nations Tourney, they looked more disorganised with no pattern of play both in attack and defence.”
[/paywall]
